Welfare concerns for pregnant asylum seeker expecting twins on Nauru

A multiple birth support group has raised concerns about an asylum seeker being held in detention on Nauru who is expecting twins.

Advocates say the Iranian woman is six months pregnant and living in a tent where daytime temperatures can reach 50 degrees Celsius.

Ali Mountifield, from the Australian Multiple Birth Association (MBA), says they are very concerned for her wellbeing and the wellbeing of her babies.

"A multiple birth pregnancy is a higher risk pregnancy where other mums are having one baby at a time.

"She's more likely to have her babies before 37 weeks."

But a spokesman for the Immigration Minister's office says conditions in camps on Nauru are adequate.

Mr Mountifield said members of the MBA want to support the woman by sending her a care package.

"We'd like to do anything we can for the family... because we're just having no luck in getting through to refugee support organisations to get guidance on what we can reasonably achieve.

"We're concerned that she is not connected with community that can support her and can give her guidance in rearing two babies at once, how to cope with the breast feeding issues, and just generally how to manage more than one baby at a time, sleep, and her own wellbeing in that stage."

Salvation Army says it can deliver a care package

Ian Rintoul, from the Refugee Action Coalition, says he has been in contact with the woman's family but cannot say if a care package would reach the pregnant woman.

"Technically it should be possible. It should be able to be addressed to them at the detention centre and there should be a way for that package to normally be processed and go into their property and be able to accessed.

"Those things would be relatively routine in an Australian detention centre."

Meanwhile the Salvation Army, which is running humanitarian services on Nauru, says it can handle donations and would be able to facilitate the delivery of a care package to the pregnant woman.

However it stressed it was not calling for donations.

The Nauru government's media office says care packages can be sent to the centre.

The ABC's PM program contacted the Immigration Minister's office for comment but they had not responded when the piece went to air.